Arkansas Insurance

 LITTLE ROCK - The extent of flooding in the north and east of Arkansas, while the estimate has not yet been established, as water erodes further, officials said Monday.

“Everything leads us to believe that this is a really big disaster for Arkansas,” Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ark., Said after a meeting with Gov. Mike Beebe, the Federal Emergency Management Agency R. David Paulison director and officials of other agencies.

Weather travel difficulties hampering Paulison Batesville Tour of cars and Pocahontas than expected. Instead, he came just at the Capitol for the meeting, to the identification of his second trip to the country, two months after the tornado damage tour in February.

“I have many businesses under water … I saw fly bales underwater world, which I know are ruined, we saw that the plants were ruined, “said Paulison his views from a commercial flight from Arkansas.

A preliminary assessment of damage showed the flooding 60 houses were destroyed and 100 homes have major damage, although these numbers are growing, officials from FEMA reported.

“For many people, this is a long-term proposition of their lives is returned to normal,” said Pryor.

FEMA working with the teams of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management on preliminary assessments of damage to the coaching. Most districts have been tried, while the assessment of some 20 other circles remain, “said Paulison. Nearly half of the country was cancelled, a catastrophe that began there flooded for two weeks.

Other scores quickly becomes “to ensure that we have the funds available for people who do not have insurance or underinsured, and then return to help municipalities and pieces of the critical infrastructure,” said Paulison .

The homeowners for a maximum of $ 28800 with the help of FEMA, “said Paulison.

People who lose their jobs as a direct consequence of the floods could Federal Disaster Assistance, the state Department of Workforce Services announced Monday.

Officials have not yet developed a nationwide assessment of economic damage to the State protection against flooding has always been in the waters of some hidden places.

“Once the water dies, we can begin to see what infrastructure has been damaged, whether roads or sewers, water, police, firefighters,” Paulison said.

Déclarantes by indications stations along the White River, as floods were “one or two feet higher than the flood of 1982 1973,” said Beebe.

The historical significance of the floods could change, because the added value of rainfall on Monday, Beebe said.

“It is not good, what is happening today,” said Beebe. “The past, what we now need is more rain.”

 Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is one of the 15 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies receive a fire Excellence Award sponsored by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

The distinction is awarded annually Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that work in the development and Excel improvement of the overall image of the Blue Cross trademark, some of the best-known and reliable in the world.

The winners will be undertaken on the mark of excellence six steps. This year, Arkansas Blue Cross has been designed for exceptional performance in the growth of registration - high percentage of new entrants as members of the previous year.

“For us it is a joy to serve Arkansans and we believe that our growth in 2007 is a clear reflection of Arkansans confidence in our family of companies for the performance of their health insurance.” Says Mark P. White, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Arkansas Blue Cross-elected.

Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the largest insurer in Arkansas, serving approximately one third of the insurance market in its entirety.

 The counties of Arkansas, which are not on the national flood insurance program can again after floods swept through large parts of the state.

Counties and cities can choose join the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program with which the inhabitants to obtain assurance that the plethora of local government is the result of an alluvial area management plan.

During Norfork is among the national flood insurance, in the absence of Baxter and Marion counties areas. As a result of a few residents, the floods of the March 18 storms experience may not be able to obtain certain types of care of Confederation.

In Arkansas, 393 national courts to participate in the insurance program tide of FEMA, said the head of the branch to reduce the risk of Donnie Blanlot. Another 74 jurisdictions do not participate in the program, who are on the ground Baxter, Marion Stone and departments, as well as Cotter, Gassville, Lakeview and Viola, according to FEMA.

Baxter County was part of the plethora of national insurance program, but in 1987, the former judge Joe Dillard’s administration, the quorum, the court withdrawal under the program, the judge said Dan Baxter County Hall.

The problem is undoubtedly once again verified with the Court of quorum, said Hall.

Marion County is considering joining the program from FEMA and the delivery of information to Judge Kenneth Oxford, said Marion County Office of Emergency Management director Carlos Parker. Oxford did not want to comment until it was from reading the information about the program.

“We must, for the pros and cons, and see whether it is worthwhile to do so,” said Parker, the program can also add other benefits, such as subsidies for low water drives, canals and bridges.

In areas without Marion County, most of the houses are not in alluvial areas, “said Parker. Marion County most of the houses in one of the alluvial zones are in a city, under the program, “said Parker. Bull Shoals, Flippin Yellville and all are part of this program, according to FEMA.

Some residents feel the area of the issue should be reconsidered.

“Citizens should have the opportunity to buy it, or at least go through the process of reinformed,” said Bill Pettit, who during life in the vicinity of White River Cotter on Marion County. “Je ne think that people understand why the Landkreis not have. ”

Pettit, an insurance representative, he built his house four years ago, and although the Assembly may, in a floodplain, he feels safe because it has risen by five to six meters, he said.

Residents who find themselves in a country with the flood, a flood insurance program cheaper insurance is no longer an amount of the house, “he says. Adoption of an ordinance on alluvial areas, a region or city to pass zoning applications for sharing and buildings and verification of subdivision and the development of new proposals. The city or region has been an employee of the management of alluvial zones, standards, with missions similar to a building inspector.

 An “economic conflict-of-Interest” policy of the Baptist Health, the debate rages on, often from articles, as this: Are some hospitals and doctors more concerned about their own success, that’s what best for patients?

The policy, as “economic credentialing,” denies the privileges of doctors in hospitals Baptist Health, themselves an interest in a competing institution. The Baptist Health Systems, the largest in Arkansas, health includes Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, as well as in North Little Rock, Arkadelphia, Heber Springs and elsewhere.

Doctors at the clinic in Little Rock cardiology - the share of responsibility Heart Hospital of Little Rock in Arkansas with Charlotte, NC-based MedCath Corp. - want the policy declared illegal and unenforceable.

In an appeal against Baptist Health, 11 physicians argued that the policy become familiar with the doctor-patient relationship in a manner unworthy.

The costume of the policy of 5 years, went to court on March 10 in Pulaski County Circuit Court testimony to the Bank study, ie that there is no jury, ended March 20 even if a ruling by Collins Kilgore, the judge can not be expected any time soon.

Lawyers measures are envisaged for the findings and conclusions that the rule of law and the process of the Post-April 25 letters. The answers are given under the May 9, and a market can not be expected several weeks later.

“As regards the practical effectiveness of the medicine, the doctor - a cardiologist at Little Rock, Arkansas - to be able to recognize patients fill Baptist, that patients want or need to go to the Baptist Baptist,” Beau Scott , cardiology physician, testified in court earlier this month.

A temporary order remains in force Tribunal, which has made possible cardiologists in the process of obtaining privileges in the Baptist.

Patients will cardiologist to say because the benefits of insurance-Baptiste, the influence of advertising-Baptiste, as a working parent, or for other reasons, for example because they Baptist minister.

“In order to avoid having to admit Baptist privileges would be a disadvantage for the care of my patients,” said Beau.

Russ Harrington, Baptist’s President and Chief Executive Officer, has testified in court that Baptist developed policies in response to the opening of the specialty hospitals, as Arkansas Surgical Hospital in North Little Rock, Baptist would be concerned “Picnic cherry “the most profitable patients, the number of patients in cardiology.

Proponents say that the policy should be maintained because it ensures that these patients help subsidize the cost Harrington charity care or services operated to achieve a loss, such as neonatal resuscitation.

Victory on politics, while others say, allow the patient to receive treatment from his doctor preferred to the hospital of his choice. It would also allow greater competition, spores hospitals and invest more in technology.

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and the Bundesanstalt für Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Friday, care individual, Hazard Mitigation and Public Assistance Program from FEMA are on sale now at the presidential statement for the counties of Arkansas Because of the floods in early March 18, and continuing training.

Eleven countries are now parties to the support of the Confederation of the disaster to help individuals and ten departments are responsible for public support for municipal aid reconstruction after a disaster. The counties of Baxter, Benton, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Randolph, Stone and Woodruff for individual assistance (IA), to cope with helping individuals with flood damage. 

The counties of Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Fulton, Izard, Johnson, Madison, Scott, Searcy, and Yell, FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA). This program reimburses local governments and public agencies and certain non-profit organizations for the costs and damages caused during the response and recovery phase of disaster.

Officials from FEMA said, the assumption was determined on the basis of an audit of the deterioration of the data collected federal, state and disaster recovery local officials.

FEMA assistance programme can help individual candidates eligible for aid to the temporary accommodation, had no personal property and medical, dental and funeral expenses, by the disaster and other serious violations of dissatisfied needs.

Low-Interest-disaster SBA loans available to owners, tenants and businesses of all sizes. SBA representatives are present at all DRCs for individually with each resident or business owner to answer questions, problems of applications, so they can play a disaster loan application and their applications. Those who are not able to attend a call center is expected to SBA 1-800-659-2955 or visit the website at www. Sba.gov / services / disasterassistance.

Interested residents and business owners within the land added in May apply to the assumption by the call immediately the registration number at (800) 621-FEMA (3362) from 8 am-6 pm, Monday to Friday. People with language and hearing can be a special issue TTY (800) 462-7585. Online registration, see www.fema.gov.

Applicants are invited to recommended that the following information at your disposal to accelerate the implementation of: current phone number, address at time of disaster and the address where they currently reside, the number of Social Security, if appropriate., a list of damages and losses, and when they insured or insurance agents and companies by name.

 Candidates for the House of Representatives in 87 districts and 89 are different, if the legislature should tax allowances of the state of natural resources such as natural gas.

At a legislative forum Friday sponsored by the Fayetteville Industry and the Chamber of Commerce, the candidates responded to the question of whether it would support growth, the legislature will affect a special meeting called by Gov. Mike Beebe, begins Monday.

The House passed a resolution Monday calling for Northwest Arkansas legislators Thanks to the support of the separation of the tax legislation, which would dedicate 95 percent of the revenue to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to improve infrastructure transportation in the country.

The incumbent in District 89, Rep. Jim House of Fayetteville, said he as a co-sponsor of the increase in the tax legislation. House said he would always pleasure, the final draft of the legislation, but called on his constituency in support of the increase.

“Unless it is a surprise, you can give me a voice,” he said.

His Republican opponent, Gene Long, owner of an insurance companies Springdale, said that the tax will not be enough to generate revenues that make the difference.

“I do not see how taxpayers benefit Northwest Arkansas as much,” he said.

Lange said that the way income tax is the promotion of the economy.

Mark Martin, the incumbent of the current headquarters of District 87, said the redemption fee is “a drop in the ocean, they are streaming into a black hole.”

Martin said, the increase is bad adviser, it is under a state budget surplus.

“We need some order in our priorities,” he said.

Earl Hunton Democratic candidate for the Prairie Grove, who is running against Martin, who could not attend, was the previous forum because of an obligation as a member of the Lincoln school, but in a statement that the value added tax increase.

“Living in Northwest Arkansas, we understand the need to improve our highway system,” he said. “The fact that the proposed fee goes against fixing our roads and highways makes this tax to better support “.

The candidates were also asked about laws that criminalize extreme cruelty to a cat, dog or horse, which is the first attack is a crime.

The house said that the proposal is a step in the right direction. The legislation is not a crime to move from the legislative authority of the last regular session.

Lange said, he wants to see, the definition of cruelty and of a person who is to be done, for cruelty to animals because of a ruling indicted.

Martin said similar proposals in the past is not the normal operation of the farm.

“I have not been able to settle the bills that I have seen so far,” he said.

Bone Island, AR (KAIT) - Along the banks of the White River is a tiny enclave of summer homes mostly getaway called Bone Island. At least three homes were completely destroyed here in last week’s flood waters.

Dennis Williams is with the Izard County Office of Emergency Management. He says he’s been flooded with calls from people wanting information on flood insurance, since the floods and tornadoes touched down within the last couple of months.

“I have had more calls about the flooding,” said Williams. “I mean, I got some about the tornadoes, but the flooding pretty well it took over.”

One home built on stilts still dropped well-equipped to battle against the mighty currents that overtook the river.

Several homes are actually resting on trees, which were the only things keeping them from being swept along with the flood waters.

Other homes were actually ripped from their foundations and now train someone’s living room is sitting in up to eight inches of mud.

“I think this flood here came up faster than the one that we had in’82 because of all the snow and the rain,” said Williams.

A good enough reason, he says, for those who build their homes along any river to know what they are getting into and prepare for the worst.

FEMA is expected to conduct damage assesment in Izard County Wednesday of next week.

 SURPRISE, AZ - Three error was not in the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Frisco Rough Riders 6-3 in the last spring training game for both teams. Frisco, Texas Double-A affiliate of the League of Texas Rangers.

Centre abducting Ovandy Suero had two other matches, and a stolen base-Cap-off of a strong spring. His first single bat first round of the Naturals on the platinum. Long Thibault also had two goals with an RBI. Brian McFall two-run homer in the sixth to the extent that the Naturals with the assurance needed for end of the push-run double in the ninth to Frisco. The Naturals finished the match with 10 goals.

Carlos Rosa allowed four goals and eight Rough Riders fanned five innings before Kniginysky matte finish and allows two unmerited, but it deserves. She combined baserunners Frisco 15 beaches daily.

Spring Naturals finished with a record of 7-5-1. After the final today, which broke Naturals camp for Northwest Arkansas. They are the scope of her first workout at Springdale Monday evening at 6 pm The event is open to the public. The Naturals’ first game of the regular season on Thursday night in San Antonio.

Belleville, IL (Vocus) March 27, 2008 — Starting next month Social Security Disability Insurance recipients in some states will have the option of receiving their benefit payments electronically on a debit card, rather than via a paper check. However, eligible individuals — many of whom are “unbanked” — should have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of opting for the debit card, particularly the financial ramifications, according to Allsup (www.allsup.com), which represents tens of thousands of people in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) process each year. It also offers services that support the financial and health well-being of individuals with disabilities.

Before signing on to or totally dismissing the idea of the debit card program, potential cardholders should look at how they are likely to use a card,” said Paul Gada, personal financial planning director of the Allsup Disability Life Planning Center. “For some, the card may make sense. For others, they may realize after looking at their spending habits that getting a bank account may really be the best option. And there will be others that will always operate with cash only, regardless of the drawbacks it presents.”

The debit card program, called Direct Express, is run by the U.S. Treasury Department through Comerica Bank with the intent to encourage Social Security recipients who do not have a bank account to elect to have their benefits loaded electronically onto a debit card. The Direct Express program will be introduced this spring in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas before being phased in across the nation during the summer.

The cost savings for the government could be significant, based on estimates from the Treasury’s Financial Management Service. For example, it cost 89 cents for the government to issue a paper check in 2006 compared with 9 cents to process an electronic payment. As a result, if the 4 million recipients of Social Security, SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) who don’t have bank accounts were to sign up for the debit card, the savings could be $44 million annually.

Having monthly benefits electronically deposited onto debit cards also has its advantages for recipients, most notably convenience and security. In the case of individuals with disabilities who may have limited mobility, for example, having the debit card would mean that they would not have to make a special trip to cash their SSDI award or be concerned if they were hospitalized or otherwise unable to retrieve their benefit payment when it was due to arrive. Additionally, funds on the card are FDIC insured, just like money in a bank account, so the money is fully protected if the card is lost or stolen; though a card replacement fee will be assessed the second time a card needs to be replaced in any given year.

BENTONVILLE - Arvest representatives of banks Bentonville, Fayetteville, Prairie Grove, Rogers, Siloam Springs and Springdale came together Wednesday for a donation to the town of Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter capital, the campaign “Stop every child a chance to heal. ”

The six banks, represented by Bob Boehmler, David Short, Lisa Ray and Donny Story, a multi-year pledge of $ 50, 000 to Tim Nichols, Executive Director refuge of the child.

“As a community-based Bank, we make it a priority to invest time and resources in the communities where we live,” said Boehmler, Executive Vice President / Manager at Arvest bank loans, Bentonville. “We are part of an equity contribution to this campaign, the assumption of greater investment and help develop the agenda for its services on the needs of children.”

“Give each child a chance to cure” is the capital of a campaign fund-raising efforts by the use of child increase $ 9, 040, 000, the creation of a Foundation for the support of operations a new, larger facility to develop and provide long-term - care for children in distress.

“It is particularly exciting for us to get that support, not only in banks Arvest Bentonville, Rogers and Siloam Springs, but also of Springdale and Fayetteville Prairie Grove, since more than 20 percent of children in that we Washington County, “said Nichols. “We are very grateful for the generosity of Arvest Bank and appreciate the commitment showed that the improvement of the living conditions of child abuse and neglect of our entire state.”

The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter is a private, nonprofit, 24-hour emergency number of home care for children of victims of physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, neglect and abandonment. It has been developed to meet the needs of these children by providing a safe and loving environment, and offers programs and services, with the help of which they grow and develop.

Arvest Bank operates more than 200 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and a network of local community operates 16 banks, each with its own administration and management of the team. These banks serve clients in 90 communes of 12 hours on the day of the week from the bank on most sites. Arvest also operates a mortgage, asset management, a company, a division of insurance and service the mortgage. Arvest employs more than 1, 100 employees in northwest Arkansas.